Abstract: Maus is the award winning piece of American comic artist Art Spiegelman. This paper discusses the style and methods used in the Postmodernism(1) Graphic memoir Maus I and analyzes its significance, purpose and theme.
Maus depicts the tragic past event man endured in Holocaust and the present difficult relationship between father and son. Maus was classified as both fiction and nonfiction, due to its unique content. Postmodernists concentrate on experience and relative truth. History is not just truths, but also understanding of the mind constructed into reality. Through the techniques used in postmodernism literature, Maus I united reality and interpretation, past and present, and successfully developed a remarkable story that narrates a true historical event.
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The structured storytelling makes every narration genuinely real. The storyline often shifts between past and present time delivering a true historical in several steps. Told by Vladek, through Art's understanding and stylized on paper, then interpreted by the reader.
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| Remind - (47) |
Memories of Vladek is at times vaguely remembered. (47,82) This is justified from the frequent reminder from Art, asking for orderly event occurrence. As a descendant of survivor from Holocaust, Art never experienced the incident. Finding evidence became Art's habit. (93,105) He tried to find mother's diary and hopes to gather information from mom to better complete the story.
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| Chronological Order - (82) |
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| Diary- (93) |
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| Diary - (105) |
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| Need Diary - (158) |
He urged to find mom's diary wanting to fill the time gaps, only to find a destroyed diary. (158)Time gaps also shows loss of information. Unfortunately, there is no more evidence to support Vladek's memory, which creates uncertainty believing the story. Art implies in his story that Memory, Narration, and Illustration speaks no absolute truth, but rather representations of the reality.
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| Burned Diary - (159) |
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| 84 |
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| 39 |
The use of distortion diminishes the presence of reality, permitting freedom of interpretation. The doctor said that Vladek's glass eye was in perfect condition(39). When he recalled the memories of those hanged Jews, Vladek was so sad his eyes teared(84).
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How can an eye made out of glass be in perfect condition or even cry out tears? Perhaps, the existence of a real glass eye is to be questioned. However, through the understanding of metaphor, this can be understood as implying the horrific event of Holocaust. Regardless of the truth, the history makes people cry. The use of metaphor distorts the presence of reality and bring out the feelings beyond image and words.
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| 99 |
Another case is the combination of existence in the human world to story world.(99-100) The presentation of Art's earlier comic work embedded in the story reveals unspoken facts. Characters within the comics are human narrating the death of Art's mother Anja. (104)No one questioned the difference in races, which suggests the mouses in MAUS are indeed human. The subtle blending directs the reader to imagine a true story.
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| 100 |
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| 104 |
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| 46 |
Maus is like a carefully staged play that visualizes despair, betrayal and such actions reveals the human nature. Starting with Vladek family's attempt to avoid enrolling the army.(46) This might appear like a family caring situation, but placing their own safety prior to the nations is rather a selfish behaviour. Vladek was safe alright, but also extremely sick. At the time of war, allies should remain strong as a team.
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| 47 |
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| 113 |
The Vladek's family was discovered when hiding in the attic. (113) The family shared their food after realizing the thief was their own kind. Unfortunately, the intruder gave the hiding spot to Nazis. Exposing the location is inappropriate, but revealing after accepting the food becomes betrayal. Never mind about intruding to steal in the first place, everyone had a hard time, surviving was the most significant.
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| 23 |
Characterization played a crucial role enhancing the story. Character interactions and behaviours aid to define their personality. (23)
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| 24 |
The memory Vladek recalled of Lucia, uncovers some humane act, imperfection. The Conversation also showed Art's interest in discovering details. He promised to keep the chat private yet chose to reveal in comic. This also strengthens his keen to preserve the story as real as possible. The imperfect characters grants diverse and engaging personality.
Prologue begins with child Art crying to papa waiting for comfort and quickly cuts to "I hadn't seen him in a long Time - we weren't that close." (5,11)This raise the curiosity about father and son relationship and keeps the interest.
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| 5 |
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| 11 |
Art does not have a close relationship with his father; perhaps Art does not appreciate him at all. (69)Art is frustrated when his coat is thrown away without permission, but Vladek pulled out another coat for Art and he showed no appreciation. Despite the bad choices, Vladek did care about Art.
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| 69 |
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| 69 |
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| 159 |
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At the end, Art turned away and whispered "Murderer." (159)This might explain Art's constant frustration towards Vladek because he is highly opinionated. Though the reason is still unknown, but could it be the case where Vladek killed someone? We do not know.
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Scene of Interest - the Battlefields
As a German solider, Vladek was scolded for having a cold gun, but when discovered by the Nazis he was in trouble because its hot. Ironic scene - there is more than one side to everything.
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| 48 |
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| 49 |
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By: Sisi Xu
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Term:
(1)Postmodernism: Postmodernism relies on concrete experience over abstract principles, arguing that the outcome of one's own experience will necessarily be fallible and relative, rather than certain or universal.
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